Issue: May a Judicial Official
who has personal knowledge of a law school graduate
who is a candidate for admission to the bar of
another state provide a letter of reference in the
context of an adversarial character and fitness
proceeding stemming from concern that the candidate
cheated on a college exam?

Response: Because the
character and fitness proceeding involved in this
ethics request is adversarial in nature and not the
type ordinarily conducted for all bar applicants,
the Committee unanimously agreed in accordance with
Canon 2(b) and its commentary that the Judicial
Official should not write a reference letter for this bar candidate unless specifically requested to do so by the bar authorities.